Our next event: Thursday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. We’ll meet for dinner at Irina’s Restaurant and Bar, featuring Heather Soener of the Young Women’s Resource Center. Learn more on our calendar.

New – win an Irina’s gift certificate!Bring diapers for the Young Women’s Resource Center’s diaper drive to receive your first entry in the drawing. Increase your odds of winning when you renew your dues, and again if pay your meeting fee via PayPal!

From the President’s Desk: February 2010

I want to take this opportunity to thank last year’s steering committee members for their work! We had a great year – fabulous restaurants with awesome programs and networking opportunities! I appreciate all the work and effort that went into making this past year so successful and FUN!! Kudos to Mindy O’Kane, Sherri Johnson, Didi Loynachan, Beth Grabau, Michelle Patrick, Pamela Henkel, Theresa White and Nichole VanHorn!

I’m also looking forward to the year ahead. I am honored to be serving as president for such a wonderful group and want to thank the membership for giving me the privilege!

Well, February is a month with quite a few sporting events and holidays. I thought I would highlight a few:

Please help celebrate National Wear Red Day Feb. 5! “Go Red For Women” celebrates the energy, passion and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke. Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the country, the color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives.

Superbowl XLIV Feb. 7 with the Saints and Colts in Miami. If you’re not a football fan, it’s still fun to watch the commercials!

The Olympics will run Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Valentines Day Feb. 14 brings fond wishes (and don’t forget the chocolate) for friends and family! Yes, a lover’s holiday, but really – isn’t it about the chocolate?

Chinese New year also falls on Valentines Day; 2010 is the year of the tiger.

February is also friendship month. In MWN, I’ve met so many great women – so many different occupations, so many different personalities – what a blessing to find so many kindred spirits! I hope to see everyone at the Feb. 18 meeting!